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Sennheiser launches the Momentum retro-cans and CX890i earbuds
Sennheiser is busting out a pair of personal audio products worth boasting about at this year's IFA. First up is the very fashionable Momentum, a pair of chrome and leather cans that take cues from the Amperior reference design, with a 3.5mm stereo lead and optional smart remote. However, if you're in the market for something a little less visible, the company's CX 890i earphones are coated in a "glass-like" finish that offers "outstanding" passive noise attenuation -- sparing you jacking up the volume to avoid your co-workers bickering. Both sets are available in the UK from September, with the Momentum costing £260 and the CX 890i (pictured after the break) a more modest £120. Update: The Momentum will be available in the US later this fall, setting you back $350.
Happy Owl Studio Briefcase for MacBook Air is a stunning accessory
A while back, I met with two of the Colorado-based partners involved in Happy Owl Studio -- Devon Read and Ryan Jordan. We were talking about some of their other products, including the Wallet and Clutch for iPad and the Cashbox iPad cash register, when a beautiful leather briefcase caught my eye. Asking about the briefcase, I found out that it was a future product for the MacBook Air. Well, the future is now, and the US$249.99 Briefcase for MacBook Air is a reality. Read on for a full review and a chance to win this beautiful case. Design If you like the look, feel, and smell of top-quality leather, you're going to love the Briefcase. It's a rather boxy design, somewhat like a small lawyer's briefcase that measures 13.5" long x 10" tall x 2.7" thick. The exterior fittings are made out of a shiny metal and are quite subtle -- a ring on either end for the shoulder strap, a set of feet on the bottom, a pair of studs on each leather "tongue" used to close the case, and one on either end of the nicely padded handle. On the back of the case is a full-size pocket with a magnetic snap closure. That pocket is lined with a bright paisley print material that is very classy looking. That same material lines the padded interior slot where your MacBook Air resides, as well as the large interior pocket for accessories, power cords, and other goodies. %Gallery-158481% Those extra goodies include a leather slot for business cards, several interior loops for pens and styluses, and a pair of button-down leather loops for keys. There's plenty of room for items in the main pocket -- I was able to stuff the review case with a fully loaded Quirky PowerCurl, two small USB external drives, an iPhone and charging cable, and a BRAVEN 600 bluetooth speaker, and still had room to spare. I have an 11" MacBook Air, but the Briefcase will hold a 13" Air with no problems. If you're wondering if the Briefcase will work for the 13" MacBook Pro, I would say no. The case is definitely designed for the MacBook Air, and the slot is too thin for the .95" thick MacBook Pro. For MacBook Air owners, this is the case to buy if you want to make your friends and coworkers jealous. Yes, I am a sucker for nice-looking leather accessories, and it is with a lot of tears and pouting that I am going to have to bid adieu to the Briefcase. But one lucky TUAW reader is going to win this case and be the envy of his or her friends. Giveaway As with all of our TUAW giveaways, all you need to do to enter is fill out the form below and submit it. We'll do a random drawing, and the winner will be contacted via email for shipping information. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 20, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Happy Owl Studio Briefcase for MacBook Air valued at US$249.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Tonino Lamborghini launches 'luxury' phones for low-spec loving Russians with deep pockets
Much like Porsche Design before it, this isn't strictly the auto-maker (in this case it's the son of the famous sports car mogul) releasing a phone. However, these are devices (three phones and a tablet) which bear the family name. Russian site Hi-Tech Mail got a good look at two feature phones (which look remarkably familiar,) the TL688 and TL820, sporting 2- and 2.4-inch displays, along with 3- and 5-megapixel cameras and 4GB and 1GB (expandable) storage respectively. Their main selling point evidently being the hand made gold plate and leather finish. There is a TL700 smartphone, too, which runs on not-so-sporty Android Gingerbread, with an unspecified Qualcomm processor, 3.7-inch 800 x 480 display and 5-megapixel shooter. This one ups the flash-factor some, boasting diamond processed metal and "elements" of crocodile skin. The tablet is known as the Lamborghini L2800 and has a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 resolution screen, 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB onboard storage (expandable). How much does all this sense-defying technology cost? Well, the feature phones start at 60,000 rubles, (about $1,829) or you can snap up the Android for 30,000 more (about $2,743) and treat yourself to the L2800 tablet for a reasonable 75,000 rubles (about $2,286). Of course, you'll have to drive to Russia to get your hands on them, sometime in late August, but we're guessing if you're in the market for one of these, that'll barely dent the plastic anyway.%Gallery-157782%
It's time for spring cleaning!
Void storage was an amazing addition to WoW, as far as I'm concerned. I've gone from having absolutely no bag space to having about 20 slots free (give or take 10) at a time. As you can see from the screenshot above, however, I could use more space. It's not a major concern right now, mind you, but we're about to head into a new expansion, which means even more stuff to gather and squirrel away for a rainy day. While you might be spending your days dawdling in Dragon Soul or messing around with dungeons, the subject of an upcoming expansion is actually one you might want to turn your attention to. A new expansion isn't just more levels to play -- it's more items to collect, a new market of trade goods to delve into, and a host of game changes you may want to prepare for. Prepare for? Yes, absolutely. After playing through three separate expansions myself, I can tell you with certainty that preparing for an expansion before it's released will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
Nissan Leaf to get minor range boost, prove Moore's Law doesn't apply to EVs
Fifteen months and 10,000 American sales later, Nissan is preparing a 2013 overhaul of its Leaf EV. What green and fresh bounties can we expect? Leather seats, a "darker" interior and more efficient heater, which could let the EV go up to 20-25 miles further in cold-weather conditions. Sounds minor to our comfortably warm ears, and there's no specific mention of inductive charging (depicted above) either. On the other hand, the 2012 model already hiked up prices and Nissan probably has to stick closely to the current $35,000 bracket or risk being run down by another all-electric, all-emotional hatchback that's also due next year.
Germanmade handmade wood and leather g.2 iPad-Case for iPad 2
Most premium iPad cases are pretty similar. Some are bags, some flips cases, some sleeves -- Germanmade has done something a bit different with their book-style case. Construction and design Made from leather stretched over veneer, the case has a uniquely organic feel. From the outside it looks just like a leather-bound book. The sides resemble mottled pages, with the hardback cover completing the look. Both the wood veneer and surface cover material are exquisitely finished, giving a genuinely luxury feel. The inside of the case is finished in natural wood and an inlay color of your choice, in this case white. It's put together really well too, feeling pretty solid all round, yet reasonably light for the size and amount of material used. While I wouldn't want to drop the iPad in the case, it's likely to be held pretty well; although the case itself is likely to come off pretty knackered from a fall of any decent height. Use The case fits the iPad 2 very well, holding it securely in place with small rubber friction pads in the corners. The front flap is held in place by a thin strip of black elastic that reminds me of those gorgeous moleskine notebooks. In the lid are the required magnets to shut off the iPad 2 upon closing -- a nice touch. The wood of the case is shaped to give you access to all that the iPad does without taking it out of the case. Cut outs allow access to the side switch and volume rocker, dock connector port, headphones and power button; there's even a shaped cut out for the speaker on the back of the iPad 2, which projects the sound forward. There's no access to the back camera, but taking the iPad in and out of the case is a breeze thanks to thumb-sized cutouts for leverage The case also has two tricks up its sleeve. The first is that the front flap can be folded around the back to create a landscape support for typing. It provides just enough of an angle to make using the keyboard just that little bit easier on your wrists like Apple's Smart Cover does. The second trick is a vertical stand. Cut into the wood at the bottom left edge of the case are two grooves that you can place the naked iPad in, propping it up vertically in either landscape or portrait orientation. It's extremely stable and makes a nice desktop stand as long as you've got enough room for it. The case comes in two space variants. One of them just takes the iPad; the other is a little thicker and takes the iPad as well as an iPhone, a pen and a pad of paper, which are hidden behind the iPad in the case. It makes an excellent alternative to a small briefcase for light office duties and keeps everything nice and secure. %Gallery-139917% Verdict If you're looking for something a bit different, something sophisticated that doesn't look out of place on a desk full of books, then the Germanmade series of iPad and iPad 2 cases are just the ticket. They're not the most portable of protection for your tablet, but looking like a book you can just carry them on their own, without fear of them being pinched. They're available in both iPad and iPad 2 flavors, with and without the spaces for the iPhone and bits. They're well finished, hand made, and available in a plethora of different finishes and colors. They command a price that's well above average for iPad cases, but the unique styling and quality handmade fit and finish certainly set it apart from the rest. Be sure to check out the gallery above for some close-ups of the individual features. Germanmade cases can be had for between US$100 and $160 plus shipping depending on model and cover material.
Joli Original: the perfect iPad sleeve
My long search for the perfect iPad sleeve has come to an end. That's because I've found the Joli iPad sleeve. And it's a sleeve I'll use as long as I own my iPad 2. The Joli iPad sleeve is handmade, which probably accounts for its excellent quality. The sleeve is made by the Amsterdam-based artistic team of Jolien and Harold. Its exterior is made from Italian soft leather that came from cows who were allowed to roam in open pastures their whole lives. The interior of the sleeve is made of 100% Spanish wool felt. Though the quality of the materials used in the sleeve are excellent, the main reason I'm in love with this sleeve is because it fits my iPad so snugly. Once the iPad is inserted, there isn't one millimeter of wiggle room. Also the sleeve is so thin it hardly adds any bulk to your iPad. And because of the quality of the leather when I slip my iPad into the sleeve I feel as if it's encased in an armored skin. I've got no worries about my device when I throw it into my backpack with my laptop and books and go on a cycle to my local cafe. Despite its deceptive thinness, the sleeve gives you iPad all the protection you'll ever need. My Joli sleeve is made of black leather with an orange felt inside, however you can customize what your sleeve looks like. Choose between black, brown, or purple leather and green, orange, red, or pink wool felt. You can also have the sleeve customized to fit an iPad 2 or an iPad 2 with a Smart Cover. If you're looking for a sleeve for your iPad, get this one. Or, if you're looking for a gift for an iPad owner, this sleeve makes an excellent choice. Not just because of its quality either. A lot of love goes into each handmade Joli sleeve and that love doesn't stop with the sleeve itself. When you (or your recipient) receives it it will be wrapped in tissue paper with a hand drawn sketch by one of the artists on it (check out the gallery below). Presentation counts and it's that unique presentation that adds to the "giftability" of this iPad sleeve. The Joli iPad sleeves cost €45.00 EUR (about US$60). Joli Original also makes MacBook Air and iPhone sleeves of the same fit and quality. You can check out their entire range of handmade sleeves on their website, JoliOriginals.com. %Gallery-134917%
Griffin Elan Passport folio for iPad 2: Classy and practical protection
It's no secret that I have a thing for leather ... leather iPad cases, that is. I like the feel, the aroma, and the warmth that seems to come with natural leather. Griffin Technology has added a new folio case for the iPad 2 to its lineup of protection products. The Elan Passport (US$49.95) is a nice looking, slim, and practical leather folio for iPad 2 users. Design All folio cases are somewhat similar -- they feature a book-like design that opens up to reveal the device. Some folios also act as iPad stands, propping the device up in a variety of positions. With the Elan Passport, that's not the situation -- it is simply a protective case. It does have a feature that can be handy for the businessperson on the run. On the left side of the case (when opened) is a pocket for things like boarding passes, photos, or basically anything that is printed and smaller than a U.S. standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. I don't believe that a European A4 sheet will fit into the pocket either, unless it is folded. %Gallery-134778% The left side of the case also has four slots for holding credit cards, business cards, ID or the like. Each of the slots is lined and separated from the others, and the lining is smooth to allow for easy retrieval of your cards. Your iPad 2 fits in the right side of the Elan Passport. Holding it in are two fixed leather pieces and a pair of elastic straps with leather highlights. The design makes installing and removing the iPad 2 a cinch, yet the device is held in the folio securely. The inside of the Elan Passport has a smooth microsuede interior to keep your iPad 2 from getting scratches. The stitching on the case is a bit uneven compared to some other cases I've reviewed, but that doesn't detract from the overall appearance of the Elan Passport. Griffin provides a choice of four colors -- black, brown, camel, and red. Like most iPad 2 cases, Griffin added the requisite front cover magnet to turn on the device when the cover is lifted and shut it off when the cover is down. There's also a strap that acts like a "belt" to keep the cover closed; nothing special here, it's not magnetic, just held in place by friction. One last feature: if you use a stylus with your iPad 2, there's an elastic loop that's normally hidden by the iPad that can be flopped outside to hold your stylus in place. Functionality There's really not much to say about the functionality of the Passport Elan -- it works as advertised, it holds business cards and such as it should, and it does a bang-up job of protecting the iPad 2. It's not flashy, so it wouldn't be out of place in the office of a CEO or in the backpack of a student. Price-wise, the Elan Passport is a bit more expensive than it should be. As an example, the much more capable (but less classy) ZooGue Case Genius can act as a folio case, a stand, and a car mount, and it's the same price. On the other hand, there are more expensive cases than the Elan Passport that don't do much more -- take a look at any of the Vaja leather cases, for example. Conclusion Griffin Technology makes quality products for Apple devices, and the Elan Passport folio for iPad 2 is no exception. It's a good-looking and practical leather folio with all of the features you'll need, without adding unneeded fluff.
Hex Code Wallet for iPhone 4 raises the stakes in battle of the leather wallet cases
A few weeks ago, my love for natural leather products was piqued when design shop Twelve South shipped the BookBook for iPhone 4. While the BookBook wallet case is beautiful with its distressed leather and embossed book cover appearance, I had some issues with the wallet part of the case -- basically, it ripped when I inadvertently stuffed in a few too many credit cards. Now the new Hex Code Wallet for iPhone 4 (US$49.95) has caught my attention as an attractive leather case. Design Unlike the antique appearance of the BookBook for iPhone 4, the Hex Code Wallet uses neatly tanned leather for a more modern and clean look. The leather is available in three finishes: black, white, and "British tan." Hex sent one of the latter cases, and I have to say that it is extremely attractive. The case is smaller in profile than the BookBook, primarily because it doesn't use leather to hold the iPhone 4 in place. Instead, there's a handy plastic frame that the iPhone 4 snaps into. Want to take the iPhone out of the case to take a quick photo? It pops out quickly when you need the device sans case. To hold the phone and your credit cards and/or ID in place, there's a Moleskine-like elastic band around the outside. This resolves one of the concerns I had about the BookBook -- when I placed cards into the slots on the left side of that case, it bulged open. The elastic keeps everything neatly in place inside the Hex Code Wallet. Unlike the BookBook, Hex doesn't try to market the Hex Code Wallet as a wallet replacement. They suggest using it to carry a few business cards, or a driver's license and a couple of credit cards. Also unlike the BookBook, the Hex Code Wallet doesn't have a liner on the side of the card slots -- instead, it has nothing but leather and should hold up better to holding cards or ID. Functionality Everyone has different tastes, but for my money, I actually like the looks of the Hex Code Wallet more than the BookBook for iPhone. It just seems more "upscale" than the distressed leather look of the BookBook. As touted by Hex, the iPhone 4 really does snap in and out of the plastic frame on the right side of the case very easily. The frame is designed to hold the phone securely into the case, but it's a cinch to pop it out when necessary. One thing about cases like the Code Wallet and the BookBook is that they're a bit odd to hold when you're making a phone call. I found that the easiest way to handle both was not to hold the phone up to my ear in the traditional manner, but use the speaker phone feature instead. Conclusion If you're in the market for a leather wallet-type case for your iPhone 4, definitely consider the Hex Code Wallet. It's attractive, useful, has that nice leather feel and smell, and is ten bucks cheaper than the TwelveSouth BookBook for iPhone.
BookBook iPhone 4 case doubles as wallet, attempts to fool miniature luddites
So, you've finally accepted the reality that smartphones aren't a passing fad, but you're no less concerned that the special tech-hater in your life might get hip that you've abandoned reading books for flinging unhappy fowl. You're further concerned that you won't have space in your skinny jeans for both a wallet and an iPhone. Well, it sounds like Twelve South's BookBook iPhone 4 case has you and your ridiculous smartphone-conversion anxiety covered. The little leather-bound sleeve not only masks your iPhone in what looks like a miniature Bible binding, but also acts as host to your wallet's contents. If you're looking to fool folks into thinking you're really reading a tiny tome titled BookBook, the case can be yours for $60 at the source link. Full PR after the break.
TwelveSouth BookBook for iPhone: Wallet and case in one little leather-bound book
I'm always intrigued when TwelveSouth's Andrew Green sends me an email telling me that something new is coming out. Sure enough, he warned me yesterday that something very cool was in the works, and this morning an email arrived touting the new BookBook for iPhone (US$59.99). By early this afternoon the FedEx guy brought one to the door, so I was able to try it out and write a review. If you're familiar with the BookBook for iPad, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, you'll know that I'm talking about a distressed leather faux book that protects the outside of your device while looking very swanky. The new BookBook for iPhone takes care of your iPhone and also acts as a wallet, so you carry one beautiful leather case in your pocket instead of an iPhone and a wallet. %Gallery-129198% Design Like most TwelveSouth products, the BookBook for iPhone shows a lot of design smarts. I was happy to see that unlike the bigger BookBooks for iPad, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, the iPhone version doesn't have a zipped enclosure. When I reach into my pocket to answer a phone or grab a credit card, the last thing I want to do is unzip a case -- here I just pull out the BookBook and flip it open, and answer a call or grab some cash. The distressed leather exterior of the BookBook is beautiful, and should keep you from being concerned about scratching it. Any bumps, scratches, and stains will only add to the charm of the case. If you like leather, you'll love the smell of the BookBook when you pull it out of the box. It's that nice tanned leather smell, and the warm distressed leather feel that make this such a delightful iPhone case. Functionality Concerned about taking photos in a case like this? Don't be. With a pull on the bright red "bookmark" you can nudge the phone out just far enough to snap a quick photo and then push it back into the case. One feature that TwelveSouth doesn't advertise is that the BookBook brings "Find My Wallet" to life, since you'd be able to ping your iPhone and know exactly where it and your money are. You have immediate access to the Dock connector, the speakers are wide open to the world, and all of the other buttons and ports are easy to get to. For the volume toggle, there are actually + and - "buttons" embossed into the leather covering the switch. I have a lot of cards in my wallet -- mainly things like membership and "frequent flier" cards -- so I was worried that the BookBook wouldn't have the capacity for my collection of plastic and paper. I was right. I had to leave a lot of cards out of the wallet side of the BookBook, and even with eight cards (driver's license, medical card, credit cards, ATM card, etc...) the left side of the BookBook was bulging by the time I was done. I tried to slip some money into the slot allotted for it, and found that it doing that really made the BookBook swell up. I guess I'm one of those kids who "can't have anything nice," since I noticed after putting my cards into the wallet side that the seam between the leather card holders and the material lining the cash slot was pulling apart. The moral of the story? If you are going to use a BookBook for iPhone as your only wallet, don't carry a lot of cards. Conclusion If you have just a few credit or ID cards to carry and don't have a huge wad of cash in your wallet, then the BookBook for iPhone is an elegant and unique case for your phone. I love the look and feel of this, and it will certainly be a conversation starter. In fact, according to the promotional movie below, the BookBook is apparently quite useful in "getting lucky." Enjoy the fantasy!
Klipsch Mode noise-canceling headphones tweet highs, woof lows
We've been worried about Klipsch's future since Audiovox joined the picture, but it looks like there isn't reason to fret just yet. Remember the company's first on-ear headphones, the Image One? Well, Klippy's back for round two evidently; its Mode active noise-canceling headphones have quietly popped up on its website with a whopping $350 price tag and a fall 2011 release. The collapsible earcups are padded in plushy leather and house a 40mm mid / low woofer with a 15mm tweeter for silky highs, crunchy mids and thumping lows. Also included are two detachable 3.5mm cables, one of which has an Apple-certified three-button inline remote / mic. Best of all, ANC can be enabled for up to 45 hours on a single battery to zone out any bustle around you. We'll have an ears-on with these very soon, but you'll find details now via the source link below.%Gallery-128214%
Vertu Signature Precious is awash in sea of sapphire...and regret (video)
It may not feature GPS, an accelerometer, or even a camera, but if you've run out of disposable items to encrust with jewels, then Vertu's Precious -- the latest revision to its aging Signature lineup -- may be the mobile phone for you. While its basic array of quadband GSM, 2100 / 850 MHz 3G, Bluetooth and WiFi may seem a touch modest, varieties come slathered in platinum, three types of gold (yellow, white and red), leather, ceramic, and enough jewels to make Her Majesty blush. Its face, known as the "sea of sapphire," is mostly obscured (save for the OLED display), but you high rollers can take comfort knowing it spent more than two weeks in a 2000°C oven to appease your discerning taste. Also hidden are 4.75 carats of ruby bearings, which are said to give the keys a frictionless, satisfying click. The ring tones are exclusive compositions by Dario Marianelli and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra -- though we were bigger fans before they sold out. For a quick glimpse of how the Precious comes together gem by gem, just follow the break. There's no word on pricing or availability, but if you're considering putting up your first born as collateral, you might want to reconsider this cringe-worthy creation. [Thanks, Radi]
Nokia Oro passes FCC, cleared for a gaudy stateside landing
The odds that you'll have a North American spotting of Nokia's audacious 18-karat gold Oro just became more likely. That's because the handset recently appeared before the FCC and was certified for frequencies utilized by AT&T, Bell, Telus, Rogers, T-Mobile, Wind and Mobilicity. That's not to suggest any of the carriers are taking a bet with this one, but it leaves a good opportunity for someone to flaunt their excess while using their network of choice. The stark photography certainly doesn't embellish the bling that we'd seen in earlier press shots, but don't kid yourself -- anything lavished with gold is likely to scream "Mug me" on busy street corners. Lest we reiterate, the phone is nothing more than a gilded C7 and it's selling for under a Benjamin on contract as the Nokia Astound. If you're genuinely wanting to attract attention in the US, running Symbian is thoroughly sufficient.
Cadence's 4-Bit Chrono Watch lets you do business, disguises your inner geek
Glance above and you'll notice a normal, elegant chronograph watch, correct? Not exactly... See, that jet-black dial is rocking 4-bit binary hour-bars in place of numbers, and looking very geek-chic doing so. Announced today, Cadence's 4-Bit Chronograph Watch is the chrono revision of its $80 4-Bit Watch, sporting a larger casing, darker dial, greater water resistance, and most notably, a UTC display to help you stay on schedule while globetrotting. The luminescent hands -- perfect for late-night hacking -- are kept in motion by an automatic Miyota quartz movement wedged inside of a 42mm stainless steel case, which is rated water-resistant to five atmospheres (165 feet). The watch is further protected by a sapphire-coated glass crystal, and topped off with a black leather band to keep things extra classy. When the 4-Bit Chrono ships come July, getting one around your wrist will set you back $195, but slyly wearing your geek cred is only $119 if you reserve one now -- a full press release is after the break to help you decide.
Nokia Oro is covered with 18ct gold on the outside, tinged with Symbian regret inside
Nokia has just unveiled a strange new beast of a smartphone. Internally, it's your good old C7 -- 3.5-inch AMOLED screen, 720p video recording, 8 megapixel camera, a pentaband radio, and Symbian as your zombie OS -- but externally it's taken on a lick of gold paint and a rear cover made of real leather. The price for a phone built quite so luxuriously is said to be upwards of €800 ($1,126) before taxes and subsidies and launch is expected in Q3 in select countries across Europe and Asia. Russia in particular is called out as a successful market for such "premium" phones, with Nokia's Gabriel Speratti, General Manager for its operations in the country, explaining that: "We have a large number of users who are looking for products with a build quality and superior materials that attest to their success and social standing. In some areas, possession of such premium products is the passport to being taken seriously." We have to agree, owning a phone like this will certainly have an effect on your social life, we're just not so sure it'll be a positive one.
The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: The highlights
It's not every year that a movie comes along that captures the pop culture zeitgeist so powerfully and so quickly as The Matrix did. I recall lugging a few college friends along to see this in 1999 -- having heard only a few sparse details about it beforehand -- and coming out of the theater feeling as if we we'd been electrified. The bold mix of science fiction, martial arts, philosophy, action, and leather ensembles became the smash hit of the year, and a franchise was born. And while we had great hopes that this would be this generation's Star Wars, The Matrix ultimately proved to be a lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon, impossible to recapture once unleashed. Sequels, animated shorts, video games, comic books -- none rose to the height of the original film, and eventually the franchise petered out. During this period, an odd duck of an MMO was born: The Matrix Online. When you think about it, an online virtual world where people log in and fight against programs was a really short hop from the movie series. MxO, as it was abbreviated, was an audacious game with unique features, story-centric gameplay and a sci-fi bent in a field of fantasy competitors, and while it only lasted four years, it was enough to make a huge impression for its community. So by popular demand, this month we're going to revisit the 1s and 0s of The Matrix Online to see just how deep the rabbit hole (and well-worn cliche) goes -- and what made this game stand out!
Aion adds Lineage II armor microtransaction items
Long-time fans of NCsoft MMOs are no doubt aware of the visual similarities between Aion and Lineage II. Sure, Aion is quite a bit newer and shinier, but it's easy to see influences from the earlier title if you know where to look. Take the level 30 Elyos Daeva armor for example. The set looks suspiciously like an updated version of L2's Blue Wolf armor, right down to the skin-tight leggings and the white boots. Today, NCsoft has announced a cash shop promotion designed to capitalize on the seven-year anniversary of L2 and intermingle the two titles even further. Players are now able to purchase skins inspired by Lineage II's dynasty armor for use on their Aion avatars. The dynasty skins also mark the first set of armor appearance items that aren't restricted by a player's armor proficiency (i.e., if you want to put the dynasty plate set on your cloth-wearing Sorceror, you can). The skins are available via NCsoft's microtransaction store and will only be available for a limited time according to the official website.
Bentley Collection iPad, iPhone, and BlackBerry cases are made of rich, non-Corinthian leather
If you'd like to give your iPad the same cosseting your posterior receives when you slot into the sport buckets in your Continental GT then you, good chap, are in luck. Bentley's "luxury leather partner" Ettinger, which ensures no surface of the vehicles is bereft of animal hide, is releasing a line of gadget cases to cover your iPad, iPhone, or BlackBerry -- though it's unclear exactly which model for the latter. Prices? You're looking at £45 for either of the phone holsters or £89 for the iPad-sized model. That's about $73 and $145, respectively, and a lot of cash for a little hide. If you're still not dissuaded there's another image of the tablet-sized version and a press release below. Those, at least, are free.
Luxury game controller is hand assembled in Paris, overkill everywhere else
Feeling ostentatious, are we? This luxury game controller (yes, you read that right) is hand assembled in a Parisian workshop and features a lacquered oak wood joystick, ostrich leather covering, and electronics courtesy of Sanwa. We have no idea how much this will cost (and we're quite frankly afraid to ask) although we should know when this becomes available on the 18th of this month. Compatible with the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, it's being brought to the world by a French company called Hoon. Hit the source link to start wasting money.
